Interchangeable window and door covering system and associated methods of use and manufacture

Abstract

An interchangeable covering system is disclosed for selectively covering an opening in a substantially vertically oriented surface. In at least one embodiment, the system provides a pair of side brackets positionable on either the opening or the surface proximal to the opening. A roller tube is rotatably and removably engagable between the side brackets, an outer surface of the roller tube defining an elongated, recessed attachment strip extending an entire length of the roller tube. A top edge of an at least one flexible panel, sized for covering the opening, is removably engagable with the attachment strip of the roller tube such that the top edge of the panel sits substantially flush with the outer surface of the roller tube. A panel rail is removably engagable with an opposing bottom edge of the panel. In use, the system facilitates the easy swapping of one panel for another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interchangeable covering system positionable for selectively covering an opening in a substantially vertically oriented surface, the system comprising:
 a pair of side brackets positionable on either the opening or the surface proximal to the opening;   a roller tube rotatably and removably engagable between the side brackets, an outer surface of the roller tube defining an elongated, recessed attachment strip extending an entire length of the roller tube;   an at least one flexible panel sized for covering the opening, a top edge of the panel removably engagable with the attachment strip of the roller tube such that the top edge of the panel sits substantially flush with the outer surface of the roller tube; and   a panel rail engaged with an opposing bottom edge of the panel;   whereby, the system is capable of facilitating the easy swapping of one panel for another.   
     
     
         2 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment strip forms an elongated alignment rail on an opposing inner surface of the roller tube, the alignment rail extending the entire length of the roller tube. 
     
     
         3 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 1 , wherein the side brackets are configured for being removably engagable with opposing ends of a substantially horizontally oriented mounting bar, the mounting bar configured for being mounted on either the opening or the surface proximal to the opening in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 3 , further comprising an at least one mounting bracket engaged with the mounting bar and configured for securing the mounting bar to the surface, each of the at least one mounting bracket comprising:
 a mounting portion providing an at least one engagement tab positioned and configured for removable engagement with a corresponding at least one engagement receptacle positioned on a rear surface of the mounting bar; and   a backplate providing a recess sized and configured for removably receiving the mounting portion therewithin, the backplate configured for being secured to the surface via an at least one fastener.   
     
     
         5 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 4 , wherein the backplate of the at least one mounting bracket further provides:
 an at least one primary mounting hole positioned substantially at a center point of the backplate and extending through the backplate for allowing the at least one fastener to extend therethrough and into the surface, thereby securing the backplate to the surface; and   an at least one secondary mounting hole positioned for further securing the backplate to the surface, the at least one secondary mounting hold extending through the backplate for allowing a further at least one fastener to extend therethrough and into the surface;   whereby, the backplate is first secured to the surface via the at least one primary mounting hole so as to enable the backplate to be leveled prior to further securing the backplate to the surface via the at least one secondary mounting hole.   
     
     
         6 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 2 , wherein a first one of the side brackets provides a disconnect sleeve removably insertable within a first end of the roller tube, thereby allowing the roller tube to be removably engaged with the first one of the side brackets. 
     
     
         7 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 6 , wherein an outer surface of the disconnect sleeve provides an elongated alignment slot positioned and configured for slidably receiving a length of the alignment rail on the inner surface of the roller tube, thereby allowing the disconnect sleeve and the roller tube to rotate in unison relative to the side brackets. 
     
     
         8 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 7 , wherein the interior space of the disconnect sleeve is further sized and configured for receiving a brake mechanism, such that the release spring is held within the interior space by the brake mechanism, the brake mechanism positioned and configured for rotationally locking the roller tube relative to the side brackets. 
     
     
         9 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 8 , wherein the brake mechanism is keyed for mating with an inner surface of the disconnect sleeve, thereby allowing the brake mechanism and the disconnect sleeve to rotate in unison. 
     
     
         10 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 8 , wherein the brake mechanism provides a bracket slot positioned and configured for removably receiving a corresponding bracket tab provided by the first one of the side brackets. 
     
     
         11 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 6 , wherein a second one of the side brackets provides a drive assembly engaged with an opposing second end of the roller tube and configured for rotating the roller tube. 
     
     
         12 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 11 , wherein a first end of the drive assembly provides a bracket slot positioned and configured for removably receiving a corresponding bracket tab provided by the second one of the side brackets. 
     
     
         13 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 12 , wherein an opposing second end of the drive assembly provides an elongated alignment slot positioned and configured for slidably receiving a length of the alignment rail on the inner surface of the roller tube, thereby allowing the drive assembly and the roller tube to rotate in unison relative to the side brackets. 
     
     
         14 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bottom edge of the panel provides an at least one edge tab; and   the panel rail provides a lengthwise rail slot extending an entire length of the panel rail, the rail slot providing a pair of opposing open terminal ends positioned at opposing ends of the panel rail and configured for slidably receiving the at least one edge tab into the rail slot.   
     
     
         15 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 14 , wherein the panel rail further provides a pair of end caps removably engagable with the opposing ends of the panel rail, each end cap configured for obstructing the corresponding one of the terminal ends of the rail slot so as to prevent the at least one edge tab from unintentional disengagement from the rail slot. 
     
     
         16 . An interchangeable covering system positionable for selectively covering an opening in a substantially vertically oriented surface, the system comprising:
 a pair of side brackets positionable on either the opening or the surface proximal to the opening;   a roller tube rotatably and removably engagable between the side brackets, an outer surface of the roller tube defining an elongated, recessed attachment strip extending an entire length of the roller tube, the attachment strip forming an elongated alignment rail on an opposing inner surface of the roller tube and extending an entire length thereof;   an at least one flexible panel sized for covering the opening, a top edge of the panel removably engagable with the attachment strip of the roller tube such that the top edge of the panel sits substantially flush with the outer surface of the roller tube;   a first one of the side brackets providing a disconnect sleeve removably insertable within a first end of the roller tube, an outer surface of the disconnect sleeve providing an elongated alignment slot positioned and configured for slidably receiving a length of the alignment rail of the roller tube, thereby allowing the disconnect sleeve and the roller tube to rotate in unison relative to the side brackets;   a second one of the side brackets providing a drive assembly engaged with an opposing second end of the roller tube and configured for rotating the roller tube, an outer surface of the drive assembly providing an elongated alignment slot positioned and configured for slidably receiving a length of the alignment rail of the roller tube, thereby allowing the drive assembly and the roller tube to rotate in unison relative to the side brackets; and   a panel rail engaged with an opposing bottom edge of the panel;   whereby, the system is capable of facilitating the easy swapping of one panel for another.   
     
     
         17 . An interchangeable covering system positionable for selectively covering an opening in a substantially vertically oriented surface, the system comprising:
 an at least one flexible panel sized for covering the opening;   a first panel rail removably engagable with a top edge of the panel and configured for being mounted on either the opening or the surface proximal to the opening;   a second panel rail engaged with an opposing bottom edge of the panel; and   the first panel rail providing an at least one first attachment portion positioned and configured for removable engagement with a corresponding at least one second attachment portion provided by the second panel rail, wherein upon the second panel rail being folded up against the first panel rail, the first and second attachment portions removably secure the first and second panel rails together;   whereby, the system is capable of facilitating the easy swapping of one panel for another.   
     
     
         18 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the top edge of the panel provides an at least one edge tab;   the first panel rail provides a lengthwise rail slot extending an entire length of the first panel rail, the rail slot providing a pair of opposing open terminal ends positioned at opposing ends of the first panel rail and configured for slidably receiving the at least one edge tab of the top edge of the panel into the rail slot;   the bottom edge of the panel provides an at least one edge tab; and   the second panel rail provides a lengthwise rail slot extending an entire length of the second panel rail, the rail slot providing a pair of opposing open terminal ends positioned at opposing ends of the second panel rail and configured for slidably receiving the at least one edge tab of the bottom edge of the panel into the rail slot.   
     
     
         19 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first panel rail further provides a pair of end caps removably engagable with the opposing ends of the first panel rail, each end cap configured for obstructing the corresponding one of the terminal ends of the rail slot of the first panel rail so as to prevent the at least one edge tab of the top edge of the panel from unintentional disengagement from said rail slot; and   the second panel rail further provides a pair of end caps removably engagable with the opposing ends of the second panel rail, each end cap configured for obstructing the corresponding one of the terminal ends of the rail slot of the second panel rail so as to prevent the at least one edge tab of the bottom edge of the panel from unintentional disengagement from said rail slot.   
     
     
         20 . The interchangeable covering system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first panel rail is constructed out of an at least one mounting strip engaged with the top edge of the panel; and   the second panel rail is constructed out of an at least one mounting strip engaged with the bottom edge of the panel.